Amid reports that the Cowboys’ coaches want to get rid of Rolando McClain, owner and G.M. Jerry Jones is standing by the troubled linebacker.
Jones acknowledged that he’s not happy that McClain got suspended for the first 10 games of the season for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, but that isn’t going to make Jones cut McClain.
“Disappointed is the word,” Jones told the Star-Telegram. “It is a recognition that these dependency issues are a difficult thing to address. We are proud of everything that we’ve gotten from Rolando. His aptitude as a football player is almost unsurpassed as one of the best that I’ve seen. We all say it’s such a waste, but with us, knowing him, we’ve got the best that he’s done in pro football.”
Jones gave McClain a $750,000 signing bonus on a new one-year contract in March, and Jones doesn’t want to cut McClain now.
“The main thing is strategically, [financially], it’s not good for us,” Jones said, “and he doesn’t take up an active spot on the roster [during the suspension].”
So even though the Cowboys’ coaches were reportedly furious that McClain skipped Organized Team Activities this offseason, Jones isn’t planning to cut McClain. And in Dallas, Jones has final say.